A rural-centric news round-up contributed by our friends at the Center for Rural Affairs, who have this to say: "I hope you weren't counting on us to do anything about the farm bill :). It was quite refreshing to do this about all NON-farm bill related items." Why are they so cranky? Read their...

Shit happens…to be legally sellable for consumption: "One federal inspector calls it the 'E. coli loophole.' Another says, 'Nobody would buy it if they knew.'" What are these officials talking about? A little-known fact that the USDA allows companies to sell meat that has tested positive...

Sneaky sneaky, not NAIS at all: We're not fans of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which would force small farmers and hobbyists as well as giganto agribusiness to tag and track every animal in the U.S., but we're agog at that senator Tom Harkin would havethe nerve to sneak a provision in...

I have much to say on the topic of subsidies, the favorite whipping boy of farm policy reform advocates far and wide (and my personal favorite topic to bring up at parties, only slightly ahead of slaughter. Yep, I'm quite popular!). But with several work deadlines looming, I'll have to hold off until...

PBS Marketplace is looking for people engaged in the Farm Bill debate to share their experiences in attempting to shape the new legislation. They also want to hear from farmers about how their business might be affected by bill. All right Farm Bill Girl, Janet, ExpatChef, Marc aka Mental Masala, and our...

Gazillionth recall + question for readers: Cargill is recalling more than 1 million pounds of ground beef after a USDA test found E. coli. The meat was distributed to retailers across the country, including Giant, ShopRite, Wegmans and Weis. Now a reader poll: How many of you buy factory ground beef and...

Read it and weep: In case you missed our earlier post about it, here's Michael Pollan on the current Senate version of the Farm Bill. (New York Times) Farm Bill is bipartisan failure: This Chicago Tribune op-ed, one of many about the Farm Bill this weekend (here's the Gray Lady's), is worth noting for its...

Michael Pollan has an op-ed in today's New York Times that explains, in his trademark clear, wry style, why the current version of the Farm Bill the Senate is preparing to pass is "very much a farm bill in the traditional let-them-eat-high-fructose-corn-syrup mold." If you've been trying to talk...

From our previous contributor Janet Majure, who lives in Kansas and blogs regularly at Foodperson.com. A funny thing happened when I called my senators this week to ask their support of the Dorgan-Grassley Amendment, which would "put a hard cap of $250,000 on commodity payments, close loopholes, and...

Michael Pollan with "King Corn" stars Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney, and director Aaron Woolf, along with a corny hat that Pollan had in his backpack. As expected, Tuesday night's special event for "King Corn," featuring Michael Pollan and the three filmmakers, had a huge turnout, with...

For some pre-Halloween thrills and chills, this digest is all about that zombie-, vampire- and Frankenstein-filled piece of legislation called the Food and Farm Bill. Late last week, the Senate Agriculture Committee completed its work on the bill and sent it to the full Senate, where it will be debated in a...